Some Key Economic Trends in 2012

13 years ago

As we enter the New Year, it is time to reflect on the events of the past year and try to anticipate some of the drivers of the economy in the months ahead. In this blog, I will take a look at some of the key economic trends in 2012. In the following blog, I […]

2011 – Surface Transportation – The Year in Review

13 years ago

Freight Transportation Adjusts to a Resetting World Economy The year 2011 was another momentous one that was shaped by events on all continents of the world. Uprisings in the Middle East and the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak and Muammar Gadhafi, the European debt crisis, the Occupy Wall Street Movement, the assassination of Osama Bin […]

With the Unemployment Rate so high, why is there a Shortage of Truck Drivers?

13 years ago

Today we received some unexpected good news in the United States as the unemployment rate fell to 8.6%. In Canada the news wasn’t as good as the unemployment rate increased to 7.4 percent. Without counting those people who have given up looking for work or who are underemployed (e.g. performing a job below their level […]

For Carriers, it is all about Service and Solutions

13 years ago

Last Thursday night, I had the distinct pleasure of participating in a Shipper-Carrier Roundtable along with a number of old friends and colleagues. The event was organized by CITT, sponsored by Shaw Tracking and moderated by Lou Smyrlis, editorial director of Business Information Group, publishers of Canadian Transportation & Logistics and MotorTruck Fleet Executive. As […]

Dedicated Trucking is One Answer to Potential Capacity Problems

13 years ago

On several occasions I have commented in this blog about a looming truck capacity shortage. A soft North American economy coupled with political uncertainty and concerns about Europe and China, are discouraging carriers from making investments in their fleets. Truckers are seeking to maximize the utilization of their existing assets and improve yields, particularly with […]

Creating a Freight Capacity Plan for Your Company

13 years ago

The traditional and social media remind us on almost a daily basis that we are seeing the first manifestations of a looming capacity problem. There are already capacity shortfalls in certain geographic areas using specific modes of transport. With 15 to 20 percent of truck capacity removed during the recession and reduced driver availability, this […]

Shippers Employing Range of Transportation Strategies to Address Slowing Economy

13 years ago

Two weeks ago I looked at the economic realities we are currently facing. Leading economists are predicting either a number of years of slow growth or a return to recession. Last week I focused on some of the strategies carriers are employing to maintain profitability. In this blog I will highlight some of the strategies […]

Carrier Strategies During the Slowing Economy

13 years ago

In last week’s blog, I tried to capture what appears to be the sentiment of a majority of economists. Their prediction is for slow growth not just for 2012, but also for several years after that. In the next two blogs, I will outline some of the approaches taken by shippers and carriers […]

The Road Ahead – Some Economic Forecasts for 2012

13 years ago

It is that time of year when many companies are in the process of finalizing their business plans and budgets for 2012. We end 2011 with political upheaval in the Middle East, a major unresolved debt crisis in Europe, political gridlock in the United States and a slowing economy in China. The United States still […]

Wal-Mart Refocuses Inbound Transportation Initiative

13 years ago

Wal-Mart launched a program in mid-2010 to reduce costs and deadhead miles, leverage the retailer’s logistics skills and scale, improve visibility and control of its merchandise by taking control of deliveries of inbound freight. The company believed they could find opportunities to do the work better and at a lower cost than vendors could do […]